La Grande Halle will present rare classical folk songs in concert | Events of regional interest

On Sunday October 24, the Grande Halle will present singer Sydney Kaczorowski and Friends in a concert entitled “10×10: A Musical Exploration and Discovery”.

Kaczorowski, accompanied by pianist Grace Burns and clarinetist Luis Orjuela, will perform 10 classic folk songs in 10 different languages.

This 14-hour concert offers an exploration of rare folk and classical music from several countries across European nations, some of which is not usually played anywhere else. Sydney’s research and travels have enabled her to discover these pieces and perform them at the highest level.

“This performance provides the Johnstown community with an opportunity to celebrate its traditional heritage,” said Alyssa Wroblewski, Grand Halle Program Manager. “And this music will sound perfectly in the Great Hall, which was designed for the performance of vocal music.”

Sydney graduated from the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University, with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a master’s degree in vocal performance. While in Duquesne, she was a member of the Tamburitzans, a Slavic folk arts ensemble, and participated in the Opera Workshop, where she performed selections from Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Lakme and “Little Women”, to name a few. After graduating from undergrad, she became a member of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and made regular appearances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Internationally, Kaczorowski attended the International Opera Academy in Bologna and the Opera Interpretation Seminar in Sofia, where she studied with Bulgarian baritone Peter Danailov on both occasions. Sydney also recently won first prize in the Balkan Romansiada singing competition, which earned her the right to perform in Moscow.

“’10×10′ is particularly meaningful to me because I have no higher purpose as a musician than to share the unique aesthetic of unrecognized music, especially one with unexpected origins,” Kaczorowski noted. “Not only is this music an indelible part of the classical canon, but it deserves a renaissance: to be celebrated and explored in depth despite the ‘difficulty’ of the language or its unfamiliarity. The repertoire of ’10×10′ has roots that go back to folk music, so I think there’s something extra special that we can all take away from it. Each piece has its own flavor and story, but the stories and emotions depicted always touch us.

Tickets are available at GrandHalle.com or by calling 814-254-4033 during regular business hours or at the door.

The Grand Hall on Broad Street is located at 306 Broad St. on the corner of Third Avenue in Cambria City’s cultural district, Johnstown.

Admission is $22 per adult, $16 for a senior or child. Everyone “must have a ticket”.